CHAPTER SIX

The Escape (II)

Warm, orange sunlight spilled into the room as the men watched the message intently, their hearts racing.

"…the director general, or L. Who would pay the price for the refusal to cooperate the creation of a peaceful world? You have four days to decide."

"No."

They all turned the woman breathlessly at the door, whose eyes were wide and her breathing panicked. L, who had been staring at the screen with his thumb against his lips only flickered his eyes towards her. She ignored the others and rushed up to her partner. There was an unstable glint in her eyes as she slammed the door behind her. "I know what you're thinking, Ryuzaki, but I don't care if you're –"

He got up slowly but she was already cut off. Grabbing her by the wrist, he took the too emotionally-invested girl into a separate room. Watari cleared his throat.

The young detective took his time closing the door, not facing her until he sighed and turned around. As if a spell had been broken, she was frantic again. "I know that you know that the police would choose to sell you out before their stupid director general and I told you from the very start to not die. If all the thinking I've done last night is the same as yours – as it so often is – we both know that this…this Kira needs only a face and I will not let you –"

"Ellie," he said and because he used her nick name, she breathed just slightly, "do you honestly think I'll throw away my life so carelessly?"

She could only stare and he sighed. Looking down at those scared, gray eyes, he thought of only one, sensible solution. For a brief second, he imagined the six year old version of this woman who would stare up at him with such an eager expression, as if his approval meant the world to her. And behind the tiny girl was the backdrop of a stomach-dropping familiar orphanage. "Do you still want to return to England?"

This broke her out of her panic attack. Her eyebrows knit together and she paused momentarily. "What?" Was this a joke, where did it come from? "Now?"

"Yes." His tone was distracted and he remembered the day he left the Orphanage, at the way she puffed up indignantly before her forehead would crease. She didn't cry though. Elaine never did. Not even when she was in danger…and he didn't want to risk it further. "Now."

"I –" Now presented with the opportunity, she couldn't possibly do it. "Why?"

"It's unsafe."

And then she realized where he was going with it and laughed. "You're crazy," she said slowly, her eyes never leaving his, "if you think you can just ship me back and continue this alone."

"Then I'm crazy."

She stared at him for a moment longer and then left him, returning back to the task force. All of the men gawked, wondering what the hell had happened in the past few seconds. She ignored the man behind her completely. "We still have several days to think of a counter measure," she began as he sat down on the chair and started on his overly sweet coffee, allowing her to take control momentarily. "I'm fairly sure who Japan would choose given the options presented but obviously, we're not going to let Ryuzaki get killed by Kira's little fan."

They gasped. "Fan?"

She was looking straight at L, who seemed amused that they shared the same idea. Amused, but not surprised. He began picking at the cake as the Task Force tried to catch on. "Emi, what do you mean by that?"

"There's a strong possibility that this Kira is fake." She stopped, shaking her head. "No, more like a second Kira."

"A second Kira?" they repeated. "I-I don't understand, why do you think there's a copycat? How did you come to that conclusion?"

"Well think about it." Given her speciality of being able to detect relationships, it made was clear to her. "This Kira felt the need to prove himself by killing media figures whereas the first Kira killed only criminals or those that he feel would oppose him."

L stopped playing with the strawberry on the cake. "I agree." His dark eyes met Elaine's gray ones. "I really don't like the way he operates. It's not like Kira. In the past, he has traditionally avoided killing innocent people – with the exception of those who are trying to catch him – anyway, if we can capture one Kira, I think it would provide us with a lot of in sight as to how we can find the other one."

"Yes, thank you for repeating me," she said, irritation still laced in her tone. His eyes flashed up to her and he simply bit into his cake theatrically to acknowledge her before turning to Soichiro. "Mister Yagami, I'd like your permission to ask your son to cooperate with us on this mission," L asked. Once he said it was up to Light, Elaine stood up immediately.

"I'll go pick him up." She offered quickly. She needed time away from the apartment to think of a retaliation plan towards L's irrational decision but as his eyes slid to her direction, he called out, "And don't forget to pick up your plane tickets."

She glared at him.

He looked back down at his cake as he murmured quickly, "Or I can order them myself, of course."


Update! This is the week before exam, so don't expect anything until next Saturday when it's all over...or I don't know. Good luck on all of your exams, if you're taking them! Reviews are motivating - thank you so much for all the lovely people who left their comments! I can promise you that despite this short chapter (I apologize) things will start to unfold and pick up. With my usual twist. :)

Hope you enjoyed!